Adverse Symptoms, Electrolyte Changes, Intradialytic Hypotension, Peri-dialytic Cardiac Rhythms, pH Changes
Conditions
Brief summary
QTc prolongation and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common in hemodialysis (HD) patients and are associated with sudden cardiac death. It is known that higher dialysate bicarbonate is associated with more QTc prolongation during HD sessions. This study aims to assess the effects of lower (30 mEq/L) versus higher (35 mEq/L) dialysate bicarbonate in adult maintenance HD patients admitted to the hospital. The investigators will randomly assign subjects to lower versus higher dialysate bicarbonate concentrations during their hospital stay for up to a maximum of six HD sessions or until their hospital discharge.
Interventions
Assess how a lower dialysate bicarbonate affects: * QTc duration during and between hemodialysis sessions * PVC burden during and between hemodialysis sessions * Clinically significant arrhythmia during and between hemodialysis sessions * Intradialytic hypotension * Adverse symptoms during hemodialysis sessions
Patients will be monitored with telemetry on both arms of the trial.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* prevalent end-stage renal disease, on maintenance HD \> 90 days * age ≥ 18 years old * thrice weekly HD
Exclusion criteria
* hemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dL * pregnancy * any physical, mental or medical condition which limited the ability to provide written informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| QTc prolongation | During hemodialysis procedure (during dialysate administration) | QTc prolongation, calculated as post-HD (just as HD finishing, generally 4 hours from start of HD session) minus pre-HD QTc duration, will be obtained via Holter monitoring. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clinically significant arrhythmia | Clinically significant arrhythmia will be assessed during hemodialysis sessions and in the subsequent inter-hemodialysis period (until the subsequent hemodialysis session, up to 68 hours). | As described in the Monitoring in Dialysis (MiD) study, clinically significant arrhythmia is defined as: sustained ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, asystole and symptomatic arrhythmias. |
| Intradialytic hypotension | Blood pressures will be measured every 15 minutes during HD sessions. | Intradialytic hypotension will be defined as systolic blood pressure \<90 during hemodialysis. The investigators will also conduct sensitivity analyses using alternative definitions of intradialytic hypotension (e.g. nadir intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure \<90mmHg if pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure is \<160mmHg or nadir intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure \<100mmHg if pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure is ≥160mmHg). Additionally, the investigators will examine the overall mean decline in systolic blood pressure during hemodialysis as a continuous outcome (intra-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure decline=pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure minus nadir systolic blood pressure during hemodialysis). |
| Electrolytes | Obtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session). | Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for freezing for comprehensive metabolic panels. |
| PVC frequency | PVCs/hour will be recorded during HD sessions and for ~44-68 hours from the end of the hemodialysis session until the subsequent hemodialysis session. | Holter monitors will be used to assess PVC frequency during HD sessions and in the subsequent inter-HD period. The investigators will also assess PVC coupling interval variability in these time intervals. |
| Ionized calcium level | Obtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session). | Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for immediate evaluation of ionized calcium level. |
| Adverse symptoms | Questionnaires will be administered during the last 10 minutes of hemodialysis sessions. | The investigators will administer the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (mESAS). The mESAS measures patient-reported severity of pain, activity, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, well-being, shortness of breath and pruritus using a 0-10 score (anchored by No at 0 and Severe at 10). A validated Spanish version is available and a translator will help to administer the questionnaire as well as with all communication with patients in any language other than English. |
| pH | Obtained pre- and post-hemodialysis study sessions (just as hemodialysis finishing, generally 4 hours from start of hemodialysis session). | Samples are collected from the hemodialysis circuit (no extra blood sticks) for immediate blood gas analysis. |
Countries
United States